(St. Paul) – Today, Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives will break a compromise to fairly distribute federal COVID aid to communities across Minnesota. That compromise had previously been agreed to by all four legislative leaders after comprehensive negotiations and was based on a population formula. It passed the Senate 62-4 on Tuesday, but House Democrats approved a last-minute amendment adding the governor’s supplemental budget to the bill on Thursday morning.

Senator Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) issued the following statement in response:

“Speaker Hortman and the House Majority have shown that they are not willing to honor their word and will put the survival of rural communities at risk. This was supposed to be strictly about distributing aid, which is why we passed a clean bill in the Senate.

Outstate Minnesota is in dire need of financial aid, as preparing for the COVID-19 outbreak and continuing the shutdown has used up their funds. I will not be able to support this bill if the House and Governor insist on more funding for our state agencies, especially since we are facing a projected $2.4 billion deficit. 

If the House continues to use this money as a pawn, the vast majority will likely be sent to Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, leaving our area high and dry.”